Assam: Tai-Ahom Body Demands Apology from MLA Aminul Islam, Threatens Agitation

Moran, February 14, 2020:

The All Tai Ahom Students Union (ATASU), strongly condemning Dhing Constituency MLA Aminul Islam for his "provocative" remark against the Tai-Ahom community has demanded a formal apology from the legislator.

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Addressing the media in Moran under Assam's Dibrugarh district on February 13, Central Committee President Litul Buragohain has called upon the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) MLA to immediately apologize for branding the Ahoms, who founded a dynasty in Assam 800 years ago, as "foreigners".

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Buragohain has also appealed AIUDF supremo and Dhubri MP Badruddin Ajmal to "clarify" his partymate's statement. Moreover, the ATASU has promised "democratic protests" if Islam does not offer up a public apology.

On Thursday, the Makum unit of the Tai-Ahom Yuba Parishad, an organization that champions the cause of the Ahom community, has condemned the Dhing MLA for his “uneducated” statement, in which he had claimed the migrants from the erstwhile East Bengal have more claim to “indigenous” status than Ahoms, who came to Assam from Yunnan province in modern-day Myanmar.

“An elected official Aminul Islam has passed derogatory statements on the indigenous Ahom community. We strongly condemn him. And we warn him not to make such comments by living in Assam and representing Assam people. The greater Assam is a collective…of myriad tribes and communities. So we would like to ask…where is he from?”, said one of the Makum protesters.

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